dalef62 Posted February 20 Author Share Posted February 20 Today I worked on the convertible doors, stripping the rest of the stainless trim off and handles. The passenger door the vent window glass was broken so I had to remove it, getting the window track out of the way then trying to figure a way to slide the glass out without making a mess. I decided I would use a body vice grip and blocks of wood to grip the glass and tap it out. It worked like a charm! Then one door I sanded to remove the paint, the other door I used paint stripper. Paint stripper worked much better and quicker. Also added a little filler to some of the problem areas that I had marked yesterday, then sanded them smooth. I like the oil change sticker so I may have it reproduced and put it back on the door. Of course the doors are not original to the car, but who cares. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Laughing Coyote Posted February 20 Share Posted February 20 What brand of stripper are you using? I've used several and it seems like they work minimal at best. The recreation of the sticker would be cool. You could put them on your entire fleet. You can replace Anderson's with your name to personalize it a bit. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dalef62 Posted February 20 Author Share Posted February 20 5 minutes ago, Laughing Coyote said: What brand of stripper are you using? I've used several and it seems like they work minimal at best. The recreation of the sticker would be cool. You could put them on your entire fleet. You can replace Anderson's with your name to personalize it a bit. Aircraft stripper. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dalef62 Posted February 22 Author Share Posted February 22 (edited) More, welding, filler and sanding today. I had a few spots on the drivers side that needed welded, one on the rain gutter one on the upper part of the front fender near the door and one on the windshield header panel. Once welded and ground smooth, a light coat of filler was added along with a few areas that were low or had filler pin holes in it. Then came a lot of sanding, smoothing up the filler and the orange peel paint. I hope to put a second coat of primer on the entire car, including doors, hood and rockers which I will remove again, on Saturday. Edited February 22 by dalef62 (see edit history) 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dalef62 Posted February 23 Author Share Posted February 23 All prepped for another coat of primer tomorrow if everything goes according to plan Doors off and cleaned, rockers off, rear panel welded and prepped. Maybe with any kind of luck this will be the last coat of primer. Went through my case of Crosley glass and I have enough to do the car with the exception of the door glass, if I want to use original glass. 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dalef62 Posted February 24 Author Share Posted February 24 Today was round two of primer, using the HVLP gun, with better results, thanks to all the suggestions and comments on here. I thinned the primer with reducer and it flowed out better, not great but better. Next coat I think I might get it right and may even use the gun for final paint??? The doors are now in primer, as is the glove box door. Everything is coming along nicely and hopefully when the weather warms up I will be ready for final color coat. 8 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hursst Posted February 24 Share Posted February 24 Dale, I'm late to the party, so had to catch up on all your new posts. Great to see you're building another Crosley, especially a convertible. Looks great so far, plus you are still working at lightning speed. Warm weather should be arriving shortly. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dalef62 Posted February 26 Author Share Posted February 26 (edited) Today I mounted the rocker panels and the doors, rockers were no problem but the driver side door needed major adjustments. It fit before I stripped the paint off it??? After some grinding and massaging of the body, the door fits again. Then I had to do a little more welding and filler work. Then I put the wheels and tires back on it and sat it on the ground and pushed it outside so I could sweep the floor. This week will be spent sanding and sanding, and probably sanding some more! Edited February 27 by dalef62 (see edit history) 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dalef62 Posted February 27 Author Share Posted February 27 (edited) Round one of sanding with 220 grit paper turned out pretty good today. There are a few areas (dings) that will need some light filler, but I am surprised at how good it looks. Edited February 27 by dalef62 (see edit history) 8 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike "Hubbie" Stearns Posted February 27 Share Posted February 27 So what color will it be? Mike 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Laughing Coyote Posted February 27 Share Posted February 27 Red. Aren't most convertibles red? 😉 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dalef62 Posted February 27 Author Share Posted February 27 Red it is! 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dalef62 Posted February 29 Author Share Posted February 29 (edited) Not much to report on the convertible today. I did a little sanding on the dash, door jambs and rear inner fenders. I sanded so much I am ready to rob a bank because my fingerprints are sanded smooth! Lol I also removed the instrument cluster. I took the hood off and removed the plastic masking also. Edited February 29 by dalef62 (see edit history) 7 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dalef62 Posted February 29 Author Share Posted February 29 More sanding on the convertible today, around the passenger side door and the hood edges. A little filler work on the passenger side of the dash and hood. I had asked on the Crosley Facebook page that I needed a seat brace for the car and a Crosley club member (the same member I bought the car from) said he had one and would mail it to me, free of charge. Crosley club members are awesome! I received it last night and installed it today, another item off the list. I also worked on the front splash pan, making sure it will fit when the time comes. Took more adjustments than I expected but it will work fine. Still needs to meet with the hammer and dollie, and the MiG welder, before final body work. 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dalef62 Posted March 1 Author Share Posted March 1 Not much in the way of pictures today, as I was looking for more trim pieces for the front fenders and other goodies needed to finish the car. I want to drill all the holes for trim pieces before I paint it, so I need to find the trim in my stash. I did get the front splash pan holes drilled so that I can mount it after paint. Then I took it back off and straightened it out with the hammer and dollie, and shrinker to look almost like new. Then a thin coat of filler and sanding, it is now ready for primer. 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dalef62 Posted March 4 Author Share Posted March 4 Today I got a lot of little things done along with hunting for a few more pieces to the puzzle. I found the fuel filler neck, and a few other little things that are needed. Drilled the holes in the front fenders to mount the lower stainless trim, and the holes for the top chrome spears. Also touched up a few areas that I found that needed filler and sanding. Then pushed it outside (72⁰) and looked at in natural light. Then I masked off the engine compartment and pushed it back inside to prepare for primer tomorrow, maybe? 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dalef62 Posted March 5 Author Share Posted March 5 Weather in western PA is wonderful for the first week of March, perfect day to open the doors and get a third coat of primer on the convertible. It looks pretty good, will start sanding it with 360 grit tomorrow and see what happens. Getting better with the HVLP gun, still not sure if I am confident enough to use it for final paint... Also doing a little work on a Crosley valve cover to make a racer out of it for the Crosley meet in July... 7 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dalef62 Posted March 7 Author Share Posted March 7 Yesterday was a day of rest on the convertible, the only thing I did was install the wheels and tires back on it. Today I was back at it with sandpaper, 360 grit. Sanded the entire exterior of the body and it is looking really nice, just a few areas that will need a small amount of attention. My fingers are sore! Tomorrow I hope to have time to sand the interior areas of the body, the hood and splash pans. And maybe even do the corrections that need done on the body. 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dalef62 Posted March 8 Author Share Posted March 8 (edited) Today worked on the rear quarter panels on the convertible. The driver side wheel opening area towards the back was weak and it had been bothering me so I decided to repair that today. Got the MiG welder out and positioned the panel the way it should be and laid a weld bead on the inside of the lip to strengthen the lip. After a couple passes it is quite strong now. There were a few cracks in the lower rockers so I welded those up also. Then cleaned up the weld and ground out the filler on the front side and added a layer of new filler. Sanded everything smooth and sprayed a light coat of primer on it and the other repairs. Then it was on to sanding more of the body on the inside and around the doors. I still need to sand the hood and two splash pans, but should be able to get them tomorrow. The paint is now ordered and should be here in a week. Edited March 8 by dalef62 (see edit history) 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dalef62 Posted March 23 Author Share Posted March 23 I got notice yesterday that the paint is on its way to me. Now if the weather will cooperate I will get it painted soon! 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dalef62 Posted March 29 Author Share Posted March 29 Paint arrived and I put a little on today. 8 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Laughing Coyote Posted March 29 Share Posted March 29 Looks good so far. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dalef62 Posted April 2 Author Share Posted April 2 Did a little more painting on the 1950 convertible today. My HVLP gun gave me fits today, the needle would not seat after releasing the trigger and that caused the paint to drip, more like run out the nozzle. I switched over to the old gun and finished what I wanted to paint. Now I need to get ready to paint the exterior by sanding the overspray some and masking off what is done. 11 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dalef62 Posted April 5 Author Share Posted April 5 Yesterday I put the hood on the convertible and it didn't fit at all. When I took it off several years ago it fit pretty good. Those are the pictures with the car in black primer and red hood. I didn't do any major body work on the upper parts of the fenders so I don't know what happened. So today I twisted, bent, adjusted, pushed pulled to get the hood to line up better and close properly. For those that don't know there are no adjustments on a Crosley hood. Now I can do final prep for paint, and when the weather warms up and stops raining I will paint. 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dalef62 Posted April 9 Author Share Posted April 9 Today was paint day, a little over 70⁰ and dry. It is now all one color, took almost the entire gallon of paint also. There is one run on the drivers door window frame that I should be able to touch up without too much trouble. Otherwise looks good. First several pictures are after the first coat with the HVLP, then I switched over to my old gun to finish it off. 11 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roger Zimmermann Posted April 10 Share Posted April 10 Is the paint one stage or base/clear coat? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dalef62 Posted April 10 Author Share Posted April 10 4 hours ago, Roger Zimmermann said: Is the paint one stage or base/clear coat? Single stage. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dalef62 Posted April 11 Author Share Posted April 11 Started tinkering with the convertible today, put the push button start switch back in the dash as well as the choke cable. The installed the hood prop rod after painting it. The on to the back of the car to install the license plate light and bracket after cleaning and painting. Got several other items painted and will go on next chance I get. 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Laughing Coyote Posted April 11 Share Posted April 11 Already got the car show sign displayed. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dalef62 Posted April 16 Author Share Posted April 16 Haven't got a lot done on the convertible, dealing with a mudslide. I did get a chance to work on it some today, polishing and installing a few stainless steel trim strips. Also installed the horn, water pump coupling, the front fender trim and a few other things. I need to order some trim clips to install the rest of the stainless trim, along with a host of other items. 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dalef62 Posted April 17 Author Share Posted April 17 This is what I have been dealing with for the last 5 days. Western PA along with other parts of the country have been dumped on with rain. We had torrential rains just after Easter (almost 4")and again last Thursday and Friday (again almost 4"). The hillside behind my new building began to shift and leaned the concrete block wall to within inches of the building. After 5 days of digging the wall is back where it belongs and I can now relax a little and maybe even sleep! Lots of work now to make sure this doesn't happen again. And tons and tons of fill to get rid of! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roger Zimmermann Posted April 17 Share Posted April 17 It seems that you have the proper tools for that kind of job... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dalef62 Posted April 20 Author Share Posted April 20 Today the '50 Crosley convertible got its teeth! 9 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dalef62 Posted April 24 Author Share Posted April 24 No more bugs in my teeth! Today my brother in law helped me install the windshield. Complete with PA Inspection sticker from 1957! 9 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dalef62 Posted April 26 Author Share Posted April 26 Yesterday and today was spent getting the engine running. It had very low compression many years ago and I pulled it and put a replacement in about 12 years ago. I talked to the guy that I bought it from and he said that that engine ran good and may have been rebuilt before he got the car. So during COVID lockdown I went over the engine and got the compression back up and when I was working on the FOR I pulled the engine that I put in it 12 years ago. This engine is what the car was titled with so I wanted it back in the car. Yesterday I fired it up and it ran good for a few seconds, then ran out of gas. After working on the fuel pump I got it running again but the more I ran it the worse it got. Today I noticed the centrifugal advance on the distributor was not working right. So apart it came and cleaned everything up and now it fires up on the touch of the starter button. I also installed a seat and added brake fluid and drove it around my lot today. Did a little work on the top bows and also got the bumper back for the '90 T Bird. Lots to do! 9 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dalef62 Posted April 28 Author Share Posted April 28 (edited) Today my wife and I traveled to Myerdale PA, for the Maple festival car show. It is about 2 hours away so we trailed the 1949 Crosley Hotshot, last time it was there was 2017 I think, and it was 25⁰ that day. Today it was 74⁰ and a beautiful day for a show. Over 200 cars, and a lot were AACA cars too! Always a great time and spreading the word about Crosley, no it's not foreign, yes it is legal for the road, who made it???? And the best part is letting the younger generation get in and "Drive" it!!! I had leftover cutouts of the Hotshot and Super Sports from my daughter's baby reveal that I gave to the kids, they were so happy! Edited April 29 by dalef62 (see edit history) 8 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dalef62 Posted May 1 Author Share Posted May 1 Today I got some work done on the 1990 Thunderbird front bumper cover. I did some sanding and filling and primer on it. I hope to get time tomorrow to sand and primer it again and it should be ready for base color. 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dalef62 Posted May 3 Author Share Posted May 3 Our car club, the Kiski Valley Region AACA had its first car cruise of the season and had a nice turnout of over 35 cars. It is a free cruise at our local Arby's and they have a 50/50 to benefit a gentleman who lost his garage and cars to a fire this spring. My plans were to take the 1948 & 1958 Lincolns to the cruise. My wife took the 1958 and I started out in the 1948 but it started running rough and could barely make it up hills so I turned around and grabbed old faithful, the 1951 Crosley wagon. Surprising how good it runs! Not sure if I lost a coil on the 1948 Lincoln or what, but when I got home it fired up and drove up the grade into the garage with no problem. 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dalef62 Posted May 3 Author Share Posted May 3 I worked some more on the front bumper cover for the 1990 Thunderbird today. Yesterday I primer the spots and today I sanded them and the entire cover. Then I picked up some bumper satin black paint at the auto parts and masked everything but the black area off. Put on 3 coats and now it is ready for color and clear after I mask the black area off and wipe everything down. Will be great to get this car back on the road! 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dalef62 Posted May 7 Author Share Posted May 7 Base coat applied. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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